Now, everything before his eyes was what Nicias had been expecting—!
However, Nicias also had his own plan. According to Hera's idea, what he should do now is to delay the main force of the Byzantine Kingdom and wait for the Spartan reinforcements to arrive. Although Nicias did not know when the Spartan army would arrive, Hera promised that they could enter Attica within three days, so Nicias believed it and no longer doubted it.
"Where is the messenger?"
"My Lord Archon, I am here."
The envoy who had previously negotiated with Rhodes came to Nicias.
"The next step is up to you."
"Don't worry, I will make the Byzantines wait there for a day."
"Ok."
Nicias urgently planned to use a sleight of hand to mislead the Byzantine Empire into believing that Athens would surrender.
By sending envoys, Hilde felt that there was a possibility of a peaceful solution to Athens. In this way, it would not take long for the Byzantine Kingdom to suspend its attack. One more day was a day. For Athens now, every day was very important. If it could delay the time by one day with almost no cost, it would be a great profit.
Nicias knew it too.
Hilde is not so easy to fool.
What's more, Hilde already knew that Hera was in the city of Athens.
The specific results will depend on the performance of the messenger.
After the messenger left, Nicias turned around, drew his sword, and shouted to the soldiers behind him: "Brave Athenian soldiers, you have all seen the protection of Lady Hera! Next, facing these northern barbarians, we must live and die with the city of Athens! Remember! We have no way out now! But we have the blessing of the Lord God! We will definitely be able to get rid of those arrogant Byzantines!!!"
"Yes!!!"
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
The soldiers' morale was also high.
Bows and crossbows were carried to the city walls. The scorpion crossbows installed on the city walls had already loaded their arrows, waiting for the war to begin. A large number of thunderstones, rolling logs, and hot oil had been prepared around the city walls. When the Spartans besieged Athens, they did not have these things. After all, Nicias considered that the Byzantine Kingdom would most likely storm the city walls directly, so he prepared these things. The Byzantine Kingdom had little time left. As long as they could hold out for three days...
Everything is possible.
Clear the clouds and see the sun!
Nicias raised his head happily.
Now, this is truly the highlight of his life!
As long as he could lead Athens to defeat the Byzantine Empire, Nicias himself would become a hero in the history of Athens! By then, a hundred years later, the streets of Athens would surely be reciting Nicias' epics, and the people and children would take him as an example! His statues and stories would exist forever in human history. This is the most glorious and greatest achievement of a person!
Not to mention, he is an oracle!
Nicias never thought that such an opportunity would fall upon him.
After Hera delivered her words, she returned to Nicias' palace.
Now, Nicias's residence can be said to be Hera's palace. The slaves and ordinary people have been driven away, and no one is left here. But Hera was not alone when she came here. She came to the living room, and at this time, a burly man with a mountain-like body was sitting cross-legged in the middle of the room, seemingly meditating.
"Hercules."
When Hera saw him, she walked up to him.
"My mission has been accomplished."
"So, the task of getting rid of Hilde will be handed over to me, right?"
Hercules opened his eyes.
He just glanced at Hera and said calmly: "But, facing an enemy exactly like Athena, I am actually a little shaken."
"I won't let you and Hilde have a chance to fight alone."
Hera smiled slightly and patted Hercules' rock-hard muscles.
"Hilde has a powerful helper by her side. From what I know, this helper is from the Persian Empire, and is close to a demigod, or even a god. If you were allowed to leave the city and fight Hilde now, you would be attacked by two demigods. Even if you are Hercules, you would probably face the same dilemma as Apollo."
"..."
Hercules did not respond.
He just nodded coldly.
"So, we have to bide our time."
"Timing... huh?"
"Yes, either we wait until the reinforcements arrive, and with us and the six oracles, we will be able to get rid of Hilde and the Persian at once. Otherwise, we can find a chance to separate the two. As long as Hilde and the Persian are not together, they are definitely not enemies of our gods if they fight alone." Hera smiled, but did not notice that Hercules frowned slightly. "The current situation is under my control. No matter which one, the balance of victory is leaning towards us."
"Yes."
"Then please continue and hide in the city of Athens."
Hercules nodded slightly.
"Ok."
In Hera's plan, Hercules was a trump card.
Now, even the Athenians did not know that Hercules was in Athens. He had just arrived in Athens today. Moreover, he was hiding in Nicias's mansion, protected by Hera's barrier. The reason for the protection was that Hilde and others would not notice that there was another god in Athens.
As long as Hilde and Xerxes are separated.
That's when Hercules showed up.
This was Hera's plan.
Hercules, the god of strength, is probably not much worse than Ares in combat. As a being who has been promoted from a demigod to a god, he is very trustworthy. Hera actually has no good feelings towards Hercules. After all, he is the illegitimate son of Zeus, the offspring of Zeus' affair, and he eventually became one of the twelve gods of Olympus. Hera also has some opinions about this, but there is nothing she can do. This is the opinion of Lord Zeus, and she has no right to say anything.
But Hercules was up to the task.
Now, it's in Hera's plan.
Hercules was able to give orders easily.
Hercules had no objection to her decision, and it seemed that it was just fine this way.
The tenth tune and the tenth verse point to Athens, unstoppable
Next words.
It's time for the real show to begin.
Hera was immersed in the imagination of her plan being successful.
Hercules' brows were getting more and more furrowed.
Obviously, Hercules had already noticed Hera's little calculation, and seemed to know what Hera was thinking. However, in Hercules' heart, he had a kind of worry and fear. After all, hidden in Hilde's body was the original book of creation, which was closely related to the knowledge of the Creation Gods. Athena risked her life to snatch this thing, and Hilde also held it firmly in her hands. Zeus was desperate to get it, and Apollo even died for it. Now Hera and Ares have also set their eyes on this thing...
What on earth are they going to do?
For the first time, Hercules began to have strong doubts about his companions.
He started to worry.
Whether it is Hera or Zeus.
They were all planning something that he didn't want to see.
But Hercules had no plan either. All he could do was to follow Hera's arrangements. However, his silence did not mean that he did not care about anything. If there was a chance to know the truth, Hercules would definitely take the initiative to find out the truth - of course, if it was really a disaster that endangered the entire world, he would not sit idly by.
On the sea.
On the sea outside Athens, the fleet of the Byzantine Empire is still floating here.
The soldiers on these warships are almost bored to death.
It was fine when they were sailing, but now they were stuck in one place, looking at the same scenery every day. Apart from daily training, the soldiers probably just chatted and boasted. The food on the ship became more and more monotonous. The fresh fruits and vegetables purchased before were almost eaten. They either ate fish from the sea or dried meat. The soldiers became a little anxious.
"Lord Rhodes."
Amyntas walked in front of Rhodes.
Then he knelt on one knee.
"The order to attack has been issued."
"Really?"
Rhodes couldn't help but widen his eyes.
"Athens, are you still going to fight to the end?"
"Yes, your Majesty said, abandon all illusions and prepare for battle."
"In that case, there is nothing we can do."
Rhodes looked towards Athens in the distance.
She was kindhearted and had always hoped that the Athenian issue could be resolved peacefully. After all, Amyntas and Hilde were both Athenians, and many of Rhodes' good friends were also Athenians. Including Rhodes himself, although she was from the outer reaches of Athens, in the corner of Soenke, she had the same blood as the Athenians. She also did not want such a piece of land to be involved in the flames of destruction.
But since there is no way to avoid it.
Then we can only prepare for battle.
"What is your majesty's order?"
"Encircle and destroy the Athenian fleet."
"Okay, we can set off now."
Rhodes nodded.
Amyntas also immediately ordered the messengers, who used the flags in their hands to convey orders to the surrounding warships.
After seeing the new order, the bored soldiers immediately stood up and returned to their battle positions with joy. According to this order, the Byzantine Navy will turn around, leave the current Piraeus Port, and then go to encircle and annihilate the Athenian fleet stationed on Delos Island. Now, the Athenian fleet has completed its assembly, but it does not know that it is in great danger.
Although Hilde and Rhodes both wanted to preserve the Athenian fleet.
But at present, this goal cannot be achieved.
Rhodes looked back at Athens.
The round trip to attack Delos would take seven or eight days.
When I come back, I don’t know what the situation in Athens will be like.
"Sister Sissi, you must win."
"Lord Rhodes, the fleet is ready!"
"Okay, all troops, target Delos Island!!!"
Rhodes waved his hand and issued his orders.
The fleet began to move slowly at this time. The huge warship slowly turned around, and the sails were opened under the operation of the sailors.
Under the surprised eyes of the Athenian soldiers, the Byzantine fleet, which had besieged Athens for half a month, suddenly turned around when launching a general attack. However, even so, it was not good news. Athens' strategic location, Sounke, was still under the control of the Byzantine navy. The 10,000 people here were eyeing Athens and Piraeus Port. The withdrawal of the navy was not good news for Athens or the Athenians to celebrate, but it at least made the Athenians feel relieved.
Who knew that they were targeting the Athenians' vital forces?
In the blink of an eye, an hour passed.
The Byzantine army was only a few kilometers away from the walls of Athens.
The troops were advancing very slowly. Hilde had to be careful of sudden attacks from the enemy, so he did not march in formation, but marched directly to the battlefield in battle formation. The phalanx infantry in the front row, as the first solid line of defense, walked in the front. They were not troops used to attack the city, but they were used to protect the iron wall of their own troops before the siege.
Hilde was riding on a white horse.
She is now also fully armored.
The Byzantine craftsmen made a breastplate that fit Hilde's body, which not only outlined Hilde's slender waist and plump breasts, but also highlighted Hilde's nobility with its intricate and exquisite patterns. Hilde even tied her long silver hair into a long braid so that she could wear the shiny silver helmet.
The helmet was also made by the best craftsmen. In addition to being inlaid with gems and partially gilded, there were also wing-like decorations on both sides of the helmet. It looked majestic and highlighted Hilde's exquisite appearance under the helmet. The purple cloak behind her, the spear and Medusa shield in her hands, carried a chilling momentum.
Hield is not afraid of his opponents at all.
She rode her horse and walked at the front of the team.
Her heroic and beautiful figure could be seen by the soldiers in the front row.
But the soldiers did not choose to peek, but concentrated on maintaining their formation. It was enough for them to know that Hilde was with them.
And Hilde held her head high.
Looking at Athens protected by the barrier.
She knew that Hera would definitely lose this battle.
But so what.
